Grading 2009 draft: Pittsburgh Steelers

Grading 2009 draft: Pittsburgh Steelers
July, 6, 2012
By Jamison Hensley | ESPN.com

All this week, the AFC North blog has taken a look back at the 2009 draft for each team in the division. For Friday, we'll wrap up the draft reviews with the Pittsburgh Steelers:

First round: Ziggy Hood, DE

Third round: Kraig Urbik, G, Mike Wallace, WR, and Keenan Lewis, CB

Fifth round: Joe Burnett, DB, Frank Summers, RB

Sixth round: Ra'Shon Harris, DT

Seventh round: A.Q. Shipley, C, and David Johnson, TE

Thumbs up: The Steelers came away with one of the steals of the 2009 draft by getting Wallace at the 84th pick. He was the 11th wide receiver taken in this draft after the likes of Darrius Heyward-Bey (Raiders), Mohamed Massaquoi (Browns), Brian Robiskie (Browns), Derrick Williams (Lions) and Brandon Tate (Patriots*). Wallace's 3,206 yards receiving are the second-most by an active wide receiver in his first three seasons (ranks only behind Anquan Boldin). Hood has quietly stepped up as a starter the past two years when Aaron Smith was injured. Some suggest he's been a disappointment. Hood was the lowest graded 3-4 defensive end, according to Pro Football Focus. The Steelers have gotten some use out of Johnson, who could become the team's fullback this season.

(Read More:) http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/50551/grading-2009-draft-pittsburgh-steelers

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A pretty fair assessment thus far, but I think it may have been 1 year premature. We will find out for sure this season how good this draft was. Hood will likely replace Aaron Smith as a starter, Lewis is the favorite to replace Gay, and David Johnson gets a crack at full-time FB duties. This draft could look real good real quick if those 3 succeed in their new roles this season. Couple that with Wallace and the fact that Urbik has developed into a good o-lineman and it doesn't seem like a bad draft class at all.

I was trying to post this on SF but it wouldn't let me post, so SX is getting it:

Lewis deserves to be in the thumbs up category. It's not unreasonable for a mid- to late- 3rd rounder to take into his third year to start contributing significantly - and he did, logging over 500 snaps I believe while manning the outside corner spot. He also secured a game-clinching interception and led the league in YAC allowed.

Dodens Grav wrote:

I was trying to post this on SF but it wouldn't let me post, so SX is getting it:

Lewis deserves to be in the thumbs up category. It's not unreasonable for a mid- to late- 3rd rounder to take into his third year to start contributing significantly - and he did, logging over 500 snaps I believe while manning the outside corner spot. He also secured a game-clinching interception and led the league in YAC allowed.

I agree. He's been great for us, and he's a piece of our future in the secondary.

Dodens Grav wrote:

I was trying to post this on SF but it wouldn't let me post, so SX is getting it:

Lewis deserves to be in the thumbs up category. It's not unreasonable for a mid- to late- 3rd rounder to take into his third year to start contributing significantly - and he did, logging over 500 snaps I believe while manning the outside corner spot. He also secured a game-clinching interception and led the league in YAC allowed.

First of all, thanks for the sloppy seconds.




But yeah, I agree with you on Lewis. I think there's a reason they didn't make much of an effort (or any effort at all) to re-sign Gay. I'm excited to see what Lewis does this year.

Wallace108 wrote:

Dodens Grav wrote:

I was trying to post this on SF but it wouldn't let me post, so SX is getting it:

Lewis deserves to be in the thumbs up category. It's not unreasonable for a mid- to late- 3rd rounder to take into his third year to start contributing significantly - and he did, logging over 500 snaps I believe while manning the outside corner spot. He also secured a game-clinching interception and led the league in YAC allowed.

First of all, thanks for the sloppy seconds.




But yeah, I agree with you on Lewis. I think there's a reason they didn't make much of an effort (or any effort at all) to re-sign Gay. I'm excited to see what Lewis does this year.

I agree. The FO must feel pretty confident in Lewis (Brown or Allen) to have let Gay walk after his best season with us. I have a good feeling about our young CBs. I believe the team does too.